The Core of Learning

At a time when the value of a college education is increasingly under scrutiny, the question is not simply what students learn, but how their education prepares them to think, adapt and make a difference in a changing world. At Baylor University, that preparation begins with a strong foundation in the liberal arts and sciences, where students develop the intellectual curiosity, critical thinking, communication skills and ethical judgment that will serve them throughout their lives. Rooted in the College of Arts & Sciences, Baylor’s core curriculum reflects the University’s conviction that a truly excellent education does more than prepare graduates for a profession. It prepares them to navigate a changing world, adapt to new challenges and lead lives of purpose and service.

That commitment is earning national recognition. Baylor’s core curriculum has once again received an “A” from the American Council of Trustees and Alumni’s (ACTA) What Will They Learn?® project, placing the University among a select group of institutions recognized for the strength of their general education requirements. As one of only 13 private universities and six public institutions nationwide to receive that distinction, Baylor’s core was commended by ACTA as “one of the strongest ACTA has seen at more than a thousand universities,” and goes on to say that at a time when academic standards are often falling, “Baylor serves as a model of intellectual seriousness, offering students an education that is both rich and meaningful.”

But Baylor’s core curriculum is stronger than ever today as it adapts to meet modern challenges.

Building a strong foundation

As the University grew in the 20th century, its well-regarded Arts & Sciences core curriculum expanded in size and scope. The challenge was to preserve the breadth and rigor of a Baylor education while giving students more flexibility to pursue their academic interests.

“Our core was one of the largest among universities in the country, and it seemed to keep growing,” said Baylor Interim Provost and Vice President Lee C. Nordt, Ph.D., A.B.C. ’07, who served as dean of the College of Arts & Sciences from 2005 to 2026. “Understandably, most departments wanted their courses included, and it grew so unwieldy over time that it became difficult for a student to complete both the core requirements and requirements for a major — all within the 124 hours needed to graduate.” 

A thorough revision of the core began in 2012 and the new core took effect in the College of Arts & Sciences with the Fall 2019 semester.

The revised core curriculum is distinguished from its predecessor in a number of important ways. First, it is a unified core — meaning that all students pursuing one of the three degrees now offered in the College (Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Fine Arts and Bachelor of Science) have the same core requirements.

The core now also gives students more flexibility in their degree plans while maintaining a strong group of required common courses shared by all. Under the original core, the B.A. and B.S. degrees called for 65 to 79 hours of required coursework, comprising one of the largest core requirements in the United States. By contrast, the current core requires between 50 and 53 hours, allowing students to take additional electives or successfully pursue second majors, minors or certificates.

The unified core curriculum can be grouped in two distinct categories — foundational courses in the Common Core, and courses students can choose from topical themes.

In the Common Core — the 15 hours of coursework that all Arts & Sciences students must complete, without exception — are five three-hour courses: Christian Scriptures; Christian Heritage; American Literary Cultures; The United States in Global Perspective; and The U.S. Constitution, Its Interpretation, and the American Political Experience.

In addition to the five Common Core courses, Arts & Sciences students select courses from  a wide range of courses in 10 different areas grouped into distribution lists: communication and media literacy; contemporary social issues; engaged learning; fine arts and performing arts; foreign language and culture; formal reasoning; literature in context; research writing; and scientific method I and II.

Learning also extends beyond the classroom through chapel and Creative Arts Experiences — such as plays, concerts and other performances — to fulfill the core requirements. 

The result is a core curriculum designed to offer both a common intellectual foundation and room for exploration. By bringing together knowledge across disciplines, engagement with faith and culture, and opportunities to pursue individual interests, the College of Arts & Sciences prepares students not simply to complete a degree, but to build a foundation that prepares them for lifelong learning.

Responding to the vision

The continuing efforts to improve the Arts & Sciences core have not only affected what students learn but have also prompted some academic units within the College to reevaluate how their faculty teach.

For example, inspired by the goal in the original Core Vision statement, which challenged faculty to help students “to uncover and recognize truth, to deepen their faith, to live virtuously, to strengthen their communities and to affect the world in transformative ways,” the Department of History created a course that eventually was included as one of the core’s five Common Courses.

“We decided to create a brand-new course, The United States in Global Perspective, which is a unique course that considers the history of our country within the broader history of the world. In other words, instead of thinking of U.S. history and world history as an ‘either-or’ decision, we decided it was a ‘both-and’ opportunity,” said Julie deGraffenried, B.A.’93, Ph.D., chair and associate professor of history. “Each instructor teaching this course selects a theme that connects our nation’s history with that of the wider world. Not only does this help students consider U.S. history in a new way — different from anything they have encountered in previous schooling — but it also allows them to take a course with a theme that connects to their personal interests.”

Preparing for purposeful lives

James R. Brockmole, Ph.D., dean of the College of Arts & Sciences, said that Baylor’s core curriculum is valuable because it equips students for their paths after college.

“As students pursue their studies leading them toward a specific vocation or calling, we want them to be aware of the history, government, literature and faith traditions we all share,” Brockmole said. “We believe that this will not only give our students a valuable lens with which to view the changing world around them, but will help them become the skilled and ethical leaders that a Baylor education prepares them to be.”

Paul Martens, Ph.D., associate dean for undergraduate studies, strategic initiatives and special programs in the College of Arts & Sciences, said that the core curriculum makes sure that students do more than just gain information in the classroom.

“The core curriculum in the College of Arts & Sciences helps us fulfill the promise of Baylor University’s motto — Pro Ecclesia, Pro Texana, Pro Mundo (For the Church, For Texas, For the World),” Martens said. “The five common core courses that all of our students must take, including courses in religion, political science, history and English, were carefully chosen to address those commitments.”

Martens said that the Arts & Sciences core also helps students prepare for their future lives as responsible citizens and servant leaders.

“The core provides our students with a shared foundation of knowledge about what it means to be human,” Martens said. “The courses they complete in the core also help them cultivate the necessary skills, such as critical thinking and clear communication, that they will need in their personal and professional lives beyond Baylor. It also inspires moral and intellectual virtue in our students, encouraging them to civic responsibility in their community and the world.”

Evolving with the needs of students

ACTA’s “A” rating through its What Will They Learn? initiative affirms the importance of a strong core curriculum in a college education. As faculty and administrators worked together to revise the Arts & Sciences core curriculum, they realized that it needed to be flexible enough to respond to changing needs and educational realities. That’s why each year, administrators in the College reevaluate how the core curriculum is operating and make any needed “tweaks.” For example, over the past few years it became clear that some students weren’t getting as much out of the required creative arts experiences as they might have, so a change was made beginning with the 2026-27 academic year.

“The required creative arts experiences have now been integrated into courses in the fine arts and performing arts distribution list, so that when students are taking part in these experiences and activities, they’ll have the context of a class with a faculty member to provide them with the larger picture,” Martens said. “That should move them through their programs more efficiently and also help them better understand what the creative arts are.”

But even though the core might be altered each year through various changes, Martens said there’s no chance it will ever disappear.

“The core has always been important to Baylor, and it always will be,” he said. “It’s at the heart of what makes us distinctive from other universities and makes up a large part of what a Baylor education truly is.” 

None of the original writing contained in this story was created with the use, in whole or in part, of artificial intelligence (AI).

ABOUT THE COLLEGE OF ARTS & SCIENCES AT BAYLOR UNIVERSITY

The College of Arts & Sciences is Baylor University’s largest academic division, consisting of the School of Earth and Environmental Sciences and 24 academic departments in the sciences, humanities, fine arts and social sciences, as well as 12 academic centers and institutes. The more than 5,000 courses taught in the College span topics from art and theatre to religion, philosophy, sociology and the natural sciences. The College’s undergraduate Unified Core Curriculum, which routinely receives top grades in national assessments, emphasizes a liberal education characterized by critical thinking, communication, civic engagement and Christian commitment. Arts & Sciences faculty conduct research around the world, and research on the undergraduate and graduate level is prevalent throughout all disciplines. Visit the College of Arts & Sciences website.